Alcoholism Treatment Options

There are, contrary to popular belief, many effective ways of giving up drinking or moderating alcohol intake. The reason they are so little heard of is that Alcoholics anonymous and the 12 steps has, for the last 80 years or so, been the preeminent alcohol dependency treatment option.

Many, however, find Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 steps difficult
to swallow and, because they believe it to be the only option, give up
trying to give up.

This is a desperate state of affairs and we
hope this page will go some way toward showing those who have tried AA
and found it alien to them that there are AA alternatives out there.

Please do not think we are saying that Alcoholics Anonymous is not a viable recovery option. It is, but just not for everybody.

We at The Alcoholism Guide believe everybody has the right to be informed about the alcoholism treatment options open to them thus giving them the best chance of recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous - The Support Group of Choice

There is an AA support group in every city and nearly every town throughout the U.S and Europe. This is one of its great strengths. Wherever you are you will be able to find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting within easy reach, a great source of comfort for the recovering alcoholic.

There are many who swear by AA and credit the organization for saving them from the horrors of alcoholism. Yet there are a vocal minority who lambaste AA for what they perceive to be its cult-like practices, reliance on reinforcing negativity and slavish devotion to the 12 steps. This may be so, but there is no doubt that it has performed a valuable public service since its creation 80 or so years ago.

Want to make up your own mind?

Then read our pages on Alcoholics Anonymous and decide whether AA is the alcoholism treatment option for you.

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Other Support Groups

Primarily as a response to the unease some felt at the AA way, other support groups have cropped up over the years. Usually, but not always, these groups reject the spirituality central to the 12 steps and embrace secularity.

Other support groups that cater to particular sections of society such as Christians, women, gays/lesbians and so on are also on the rise.

Medication For Alcoholism

There are a number of medications licensed for use in the treatment of alcohol dependence and pharmacotherapy has a very important role to play in treating the condition. However, many working in the addiction field believe that medication is only really useful when used in conjunction with other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or support group attendance.

However, there are also those who believe that a certain medication, Naltrexone, has the potential to be a cure for alcoholism. The Sinclair Method uses this medication to reduce the cravings for alcohol that alcoholics typically have thus ridding them of the compulsion and obsession to drink.

Alcoholism Self-Help

There are many resources on the Internet that claim to be able to help you beat alcohol dependence in the 'comfort of your own home'. Most of these are ineffective and designed purely to extract money from those desperate enough to buy them. There is however one e-book we have come across that lives up to its promise.

'How To Give Up Alcohol' by Rahul Nag gives those struggling with alcohol the tools to either return to moderate drinking (staying within moderate drinking guidelines) or give up completely without needing to attend Alcoholics anonymous Meeting.

Whichever of the alcoholism treatment options you choose, keep in mind that you really need to want to give up drinking if you are to succeed. No alcoholism treatment program will work if you have been forced into into it by well-meaning family and friends or your own conscience.

For more help and advice on quitting drinking then take a look at the following pages:

Where do calls go? Calls to our general hotline may be answered by California Rehab Campus, Day Light Recovery Florida, US Addiction Services, Recovery Helpline, or other treatment providers.

Calls to our general hotline may be answered by our treatment providers. We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating addictions. Those seeking additional options can visit myflfamilies.com.